George North: Replacing one-off Shane Williams truly a tall order

Giant George North â Walesâ heir-apparent to winger
Shane Williams â has paid the diminutive record-breaker a towering tribute.

Endgame: An emotional Williams during his final Test in Cardiff (Picture: PA)

Williams brought down the curtain on his 11-year Test career â which has reaped a national best 58 tries â in Cardiff on Saturday.

The last of those scores was the final act in the 24-18 loss to Australia, Williams touching down with a memorable somersault.

At the final whistle, he embarked on a lap of honour with his children Georgie and Carter and then gave a tearful television interview.

Earlier, Williams led the team out to a standing ovation and wore a jersey emblazoned with the word âDiolchâ, the Welsh for thank you.

And North â at 6ft 4in nearly a foot taller than Williams â had some thank yous of his own, saying: âShane is Welsh rugby. Thereâs no bigger compliment I can give.

âI am devastated to lose him as a player and friend in the squad.âThe baton will now be handed to North but the 19-year-old added: âShaneâs a one-off. I can to try do things but it wonât look as good. Hopefully, they [the Welsh Rugby Union] will offer him a job of speed and agility master. Heâs like a book â- you have just to crack it open and then read chapter after chapter of awesome stuff.â

Williams deflected all the acclaim and, instead, rued the defeat which was inflicted courtesy of a three-try scoring blitz after Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny was sin-binned. It was a 15th loss from 16 starts to Tri-Nations opponents since coach Warren Gatland took charge, and Williams, 34, said:

âIt was not about me, it was about getting a winning Welsh performance.

âBut it couldnât have finished any better for me to score a try. Itâs nice to score but even better when youâre winning.â